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Area schools also seized state titles

Other local prep sports baseball and softball programs enjoyed state tourney success during the Jerome Gibson coaching era at College and Bartlesville high schools.

While Gibson’s Col-Hi Wildcats were capturing the 3A state baseball title in 1980, Barnsdall High School legendary baseball coach Joe Gilbert led his Panthers to Class A supremacy.

In the state final, Barnsdall outlasted Fort Cobb, 2-1, in Chandler.

In the top of the seventh, David Moles ripped a bullet single to score Brad Bell for the go-ahead/winning run.

Bell had reached base on a double.

Barnsdall’s winning pitcher Barry Gott also had scored Barnsdall’s first run, back in the fourth inning.

Gott had reached base on a walk and advanced on Cleve Javine’s single and Tim Fannings’ walk.

Jerry Patrick then grounded out to drive home Gott.

After Bell scored in the top of the seventh, Gott closed out the win in the bottom of the seventh to hand Gilbert his first, and only, baseball state crown.

When Gibson guided the Bartlesville High School softball team to the 1984 Class 4A state pennant, Dewey High School’s Phil McSpadden coached the Lady Doggers to the Class 3A title and their first-ever softball state crown.

Dewey pounded Poteau in the championship contest, 7-2, led by Meyer and Geyer.

Dana Geyer blasted a solo homer and racked up two other hits in the battle.

Amy Meyer delivered a sacrifice to plate Dewey’s final run.

Rhonda Loudermilk was Dewey’s winning pitcher in all three state tourney games.